Football - How to Play?

To become a good Football player, the basic and the most important requirement is to be fit, energetic, and tactful. This game needs a lot of running and technical skills in dealing with the ball and the opponent. You have to be a team player and an individual contributor at the same time. To be a Football player, you have to train hard and learn to be faster than your opponent.

Football kick-off

A football match begins with the toss of coin. The match referee and the two captains meet at the center of the field. The captain of the team who wins the toss gets to decide which goalpost to attack in the first half, while the team that loses the toss gets to kick-off to begin the match.

The players take position in their own half of the field. The ball is placed at the center point of the field. Once the referee blows the whistle, a player from the team that lost the toss takes the kick-off, and the ball moves forward. This player cannot touch the ball again till any other player from either team touches the ball. During the second half, the teams switch goals and the team that won the toss gets to kick-off.

Football - Essential Skills

We have listed here a few essential skills that a player should acquire to become a professional footballer.

Learn to dribble − It is the most important act while playing the game. Dribbling means controlling and keep possession of the ball while running. To dribble means to keep the ball with you and your team’s possession, you need to dribble well so that you touch the ball strong enough to move it forward but you should also see that it doesn’t move away very far from you.

Learn to pass − To pass a ball means to move the ball accurately to the place where you want it to be. To pass a ball, you have to kick the ball in a direction where you want it to move. Passing a ball can be done using the inside of your foot, this will give good accuracy and require less power. After learning to pass the ball you can master the act by slicing and hooking the ball to pass it to your teammates.

Learn to shoot − Shooting a ball comes in scene when you are closer to a goal and you need to score a goal. This will need a lot of power and accuracy. You need to set your plantar foot and aim at the goal and shoot the ball.

Taking the right place on the field is very important. Sometimes the player needs to run a lot when he is not near the ball, in this situation the player needs to estimate his teammate’s next move and take the position where his teammate expects him to be.

Learn to defend the goal − The player uses skills to try and get the ball away from the opponent player. The player needs to be focused and should quickly tackle the ball based on the moves of the other player. In some situations, opponent players could trick but the player should constantly keep an eye on the ball and player movements. This way a player can defend the opponent from scoring a goal.

Learn to head the ball − A player uses his forehead to guide the ball in the desired direction and passes it to his teammate. Heading the ball is frequent when scoring a goal after a corner kick.

Learn to juggle − Juggling is not an easy task, but it’s important for a player to learn how to juggle when required. This helps to control the ball when it’s coming in the air as the ball won’t be on the ground every time.

Learn to use the non-dominant foot − It’s very important for a player to learn how to use his non-dominant foot since this can be an advantage for the opposing team if not mastered. Playing with only the dominant foot is playing handicapped. Hence to learn how to use your non-dominant foot is very important.

Learn to be spontaneous and keep your originality − This is the key to master the game. Having an own style of play is a great asset. One should learn to be either tricky, fast, powerful or defensive.

Football - Rules & Regulations

Let’s also understand the rules of the game that are to be followed while playing the game. Listed here are some of the major rules and regulations of the game.

Offside offence is one of the most important rule to follow in Football. It is basically designed so that the players do not cherry pick or bunch a lot of time near the opponent’s goal. A player can be said to be in an offside position when he is in the opponent’s half and also behind the last defender.

Throw-in comes into the game when the ball is either kicked or travels completely outside the field. The chance of throw-in is given to the team which didn’t last touch it. Throw-in can be done from the place where the ball is outside the field. Throw-in means to catch the ball with both the hands behind the head and throw it inside the field.

The yellow card rules − The yellow card is issued to the players by the referee when a player commits a mistake. The referee shows the player yellow warning him of his first mistake. If a player is shown the yellow card twice then he should leave the game permanently. Reason for the referee to show the yellow card −

The players who play the game disregarding the rules of the game.

Playing dangerously which means hurting the head of the opponent’s team members.

Shooting the ball at any player intentionally.

Goalkeeper violating the rules of the game by passing the ball with hands to his teammates when kicked by them.

Wasting the time of game intentionally.

The red card rules − The red card is issued when a player is shown the yellow card twice and commits a mistake after that. Reasons for the referee to show the red card to a player are −

Physically hurting a player by kicking intentionally.

Intentionally jumping on a player.

Hitting a player or charging a player roughly.

Pushing or holding a player.

Handling the ball incorrectly.

Free kick − These are given as a penalty for the team players when the opposing team makes a foul. There are two types of free kicks −

Direct free kick − In this, the ball can be kicked directly into the goal and it doesn’t need to be passed or touched by the teammate of the kicker.

Indirect kick − In this, the ball must be touched by another teammate of the player who kicks it before scoring a goal.

The rules of penalty kick − A chance for penalty kick arises when a defending team player commits a foul in the opposing team’s penalty box. Except the goalie all the other players must stand in line outside the penalty area. The goalie should stand on the goal line. The ball should be placed on the penalty spot and then kicked.

Corner kick − A chance for the corner kick arises when the ball goes over the goal line but not into the goal and was last touched by the defending team member.

Goal kick − When the ball goes over the goal line but not into the goal and was last touched by the attacking team, the ball will be then moved in to the possession of the defending team and the goalie performs the goal kick.